Hudson-Odoi has fewer minutes than two dozen teens across Europe – exposing dreadful lack of game time at Chelsea
The talented teenager has played just 119 minutes in the Premier League under Maurizio Sarri
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CHELSEA fans may have a point.
When compared to other 18-year-olds around Europe, Callum Hudson-Odoi is clearly NOT getting his fair share of minutes under Maurizio Sarri.
The winger is still wanted by Bayern Munich, who had three bids rejected in January, while Manchester United and Liverpool have also entered the race.
Reports in Germany now claim that the Blues, who saw Hudson-Odoi hand in a transfer request to try and push through a move, will start the bidding at £43million this summer.
Chelsea should be desperate to keep a player who could turn out to be a generational talent, but it may already be a case of trying to close the stable door after the horse has bolted.
The Chelsea star, who was so impressive for England last week, has played just 119 minutes in the Premier League this season.
That's FIFTEEN times fewer minutes than Borussia Dortmund prodigy Jadon Sancho, who has played 1,803 minutes in the Bundesliga.
He even managed 110 minutes in two appearances for the Three Lions.
While fans of the Blues have been calling on manager Sarri to give the winger more of a chance, their pleas have fallen on deaf ears.
Hudson-Odoi has seen some action in the Europa League and FA Cup, where he has scored five goals and added four assists in the two competitions.
But that has not been enough to impress Italian boss Sarri, who clearly doesn't trust Hudson-Odoi to adhere to his strict tactical instructions.
The Blues boss has instead seen fit to hand Willian 1,770 Premier League minutes and 1,488 to Pedro.
There might be some sympathy with Sarri for wanting to trust experienced players in big and important matches.
But frustratingly, Hudson-Odoi has stayed rooted to the bench at the end of games where the result was all but secure.
In the 6-0 thrashing to Man City and the 4-0 shock at Bournemouth, he didn't even make the bench.
In the 5-0 win against relegation strugglers Huddersfield Town, Hudson-Odoi played only 13 minutes - with the score already 4-0.
Compare Hudson-Odoi to Jadon Sancho, who has eight goals and 12 assists in 1,803 Bundesliga minutes and another two and two in the Champions League.
It's an annoying fact that just 18 months ago, when England won the Under-17 World Cup final with a 5-2 blitzing of Spain, it was Hudson-Odoi who was starting on the wing ahead of Sancho.
Sancho's rise has been remarkable, but fans (and the player himself, obviously) have been left wondering where Hudson-Odoi might be now if he had the same opportunity to impress
MINUTES LIMIT
For players 18 and under in the top five leagues this season, and those who are now 19 but were 18 earlier this season, Hudson-Odoi is all the way down in 28th on the list of minutes played.
Half a dozen English players have seen more game time.
Sancho leads all players but Fulham's Ryan Sessegnon has also been a regular in the first-team, the winger racking up 1,686 minutes.
Wolves midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White (451), Hoffenheim loanee Reiss Nelson (383), Tottenham midfielder Oliver Skipp (187) and Michael Obafemi (136) of Southampton have all played more.
The frustrating things for Chelsea fans is that they, along with England manager Gareth Southgate, can clearly see the immense talent the winger possesses.
He is rapid, a brilliant dribbler and has an eye for a pass.
More importantly, though, Hudson-Odoi has two key attributes that sets him apart from most players his age.
He is calm and relaxed in front of goal, able to think clearly and pick the right pass or the right shot.
The Londoner is also fearless in possession and always desperate to beat his man and make something happen.
Granted, he can be a bit careless on the ball and sometimes his defender will get the better of him.
But - tired cliche incoming - defenders hate nothing more than a player who will dribble at them at speed.
This is clearly Sarri's biggest bugbear with Hudson-Odoi - the youngster's aggressive style is just not compatible with possession-based Sarri-ball.
The Blues, still chasing a top four place, face Cardiff, Brighton and West Ham in their next three matches, mid to low level teams that Chelsea should beat.
It will be fascinating to see if Sarri finally realises what a talent he has on his hands.
MOST READ IN FOOTBALL
Since the arrival of Roman Abramovich, Chelsea have spent hundreds of millions investing in youth facilities and prospects from around the world.
While the academy has allowed to Blues to bolster their coffers - raking back millions on players like Nathan Ake, Ryan Bertrand, Nathaniel Chalobah and Co - the primary motive has also been to find a world class talent.
Now, they might finally have one.
Chelsea fans will be hoping he's not gone before he ever gets the chance to even find meaningful Premier League minutes.
